Riau Police Chief Introduces Green Policing, Urges Environmental Issues to Enter Security Perspective

Environmental issues such as forest and land fires, river pollution, and ecosystem damage are no longer just environmental concerns but are also linked to security and social stability. Threats to the environment can even affect the sustainability of community life if not handled seriously. This was conveyed by Riau Police Chief, Inspector General Herry Heryawan, during a scientific oration titled ‘Green Policing: Police as Guardians of Civilisation’ at the 80th Anniversary of the Police Science College (STIK) in Jakarta on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. Herry introduced the concept of Green Policing as a policing approach that incorporates aspects of ecological security alongside state security and human security. According to him, experience in Riau shows that various environmental problems have a broad impact on people’s lives. The province, which has one of the largest peat ecosystems in the world, faces a number of challenges, including forest and land fires, encroachment of forest areas, illegal logging, hunting of protected wildlife, river pollution, and illegal mining. These conditions, Herry said, demand a change in perspective in carrying out police duties. Police are not only tasked with responding to crimes or disasters that have already occurred but also need to understand environmental indicators that can serve as early signs of security disturbances. ‘Peat moisture levels can be a security signal. Changes in vegetation can be an indicator of risk. Ecological data must be viewed as equally important as criminal data,’ he said. In the forum, which carried the theme ‘Democratic Policing and Cultural Reform to Achieve Public Trust in the Digital Era’, Herry stated that climate change, environmental damage, forest and land fires, river pollution, and the loss of biodiversity have evolved into threats that impact community life and social stability. ‘Green Policing is an evolution of the idea of security itself. From state security that protects the country, to human security that protects people, and now developing towards ecological security that protects civilisation, humans, and nature simultaneously,’ he said. He explained that Green Policing is built through three approaches. First, a preventive approach through increasing public environmental awareness and literacy, among others through Green Community Security Units (Satkamling Hijau), environmental education in schools, public campaigns, and strengthening the capacity of police personnel.